Law-and-order ideology

Canada’s crime rate continued to fall last year, with the homicide rate dropping to the lowest level in 46 years.

Statistics Canada said the overall police-reported crime rate decreased 3 per cent, reaching the lowest point since 1972. The reduction was largely due to declines in some of the most common offences – from mischief to car theft.

Since peaking in 1991, the crime rate in Canada has been on a slow downward slide which experts say is the result of a host of factors, including simple demographics, policing strategies and social and economic conditions.

Statistics Canada also reported a drop in violent crime:(Opens new window)

Police services reported just over 415,000 violent incidents in 2012, down about 9,000 from the previous year. The violent crime rate fell 3% to its lowest level since 1987.

The violent Crime Severity Index declined 5% in 2012. This marked the sixth consecutive decrease in the violent CSI.

Police reported 543 homicides in 2012, 55 fewer than in 2011. The homicide rate of 1.56 homicides per 100,000 population was the lowest since 1966.

The police-reported crime rate fell for most violent crimes. In addition to homicides, the largest decreases were in the rates for major sexual assault (levels 2 and 3), robbery, and assault on a peace officer.

In contrast, offences causing death other than homicide, as well as extortion, violent firearm offences and sexual violations against children were among the few violent offences that rose in 2012.

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